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Ottavio Missoni, 92, fashion patriarch

MILAN, Italy - Ottavio Missoni, 92, patriarch of the iconic fashion brand of zigzag-patterned knitwear that has added a classy touch of color and style to countless well-dressed women, died Thursday.

Ottavio Missoni founded the fashion house with his wife.
Ottavio Missoni founded the fashion house with his wife.Read more

MILAN, Italy - Ottavio Missoni, 92, patriarch of the iconic fashion brand of zigzag-patterned knitwear that has added a classy touch of color and style to countless well-dressed women, died Thursday.

A statement by Missoni SpA said he "passed away serenely" in his home in Sumirago. The town, near Varese, is home to company headquarters.

It was the second sorrow for the family in a matter of months. In January, Mr. Missoni's eldest child, company chief executive Vittorio Missoni, 58, disappeared with his wife and four others while flying in a small plane during a vacation to a Venezuelan island. They were never found, and the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

Ottavio Missoni founded the company in 1953, along with his wife, Rosita Jelmini, who survives him. They went on to create a fashion dynasty, with the couple's three children and their offspring involved in expanding the brand.

The company's creative director is the couple's daughter, Angela, while a third child, Luca, works in a technical role in the company.

Born Feb. 11, 1921, in what is now Dubrovnik, Croatia, Mr. Missoni was fond of saying he came into the fashion business practically by accident. His wife's family owned a textile factory and produced shawls. The couple started their own business with an artisan's shop producing knitwear in Gallarate, near Milan.

At the beginning, they produced athletic wear, likely inspired by Mr. Missoni himself, who had been a track star, specializing in 400-meter races and hurdles. He won several national medals and competed in the 1948 Olympics in London.

The company expanded, eventually constructing its main factory in Sumirago. But the philosophy of applying an artisan's eye to detail and precision continued to shape its fashion output, on the runways of Milan and in stores worldwide as the brand went global.

The Missonis, who often wore their creations in everyday life, first showed their collection in Milan in 1966. The next year, a show in Florence of transparent tops sparked outrage, but they were ahead of a fashion trend that would later sprout in Europe.

Their signature fashions have a reputation for wearability and for surviving many seasons of changing fashion whims. Among the exhibits honoring them was one by the Whitney Museum in New York. New York's Metropolitan Museum has also showcased their creations.

The fashion house has also created costumes for La Scala, the Milan opera house.

Expanding the fashion dynasty, Ottavio and Rosita Missoni's granddaughter Margherita has promoted Missoni perfume and has starred in advertising campaigns.